Turret construction



Jan. R, 194%. H. A. SUTTON TURRET CONSTRUCTION Filed May 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 mm Cu.

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HARRY A. SUTTON INVENTOR.

ms PATENT ATTORNEY Jan. 1, 1946. I SUTTON 2,392,106

TUHRET CONSTRUCTION Filed May 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 HARRY A. SUTTON INVENTOR.

HIS PATENT ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1946 TURRET CONSTRUCTION Harry A. Sutton, San Diego, Calif., assignor to Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, a.

corporation of Delaware Application May 12, 1942, Serial No. 442,607

7 Claims. (61.89-36) The present invention relates to turret constructio'ns and more particularly to improvements the fairing and streamlining of the spaces betweefi a movable turret and the fixed structure upon which it is carried.

In movable turrets for military vehicles, such as aircraft, tanks, boats and the like, it is of major importance to provide a construction in which the gunner or operator has a Wide field of fire which is unobstructed by the adjacent body structure of the vehicle. At the same time it is also of importance that any re-entrant areas or spaces between the movable turret and the fixed body be filled out or 'aerodynamically faired by structures which do not impede the movement of the turret or the operations of its occupant. These considerations are particularly important in connection with aircraft and otherhigh speed vehicles in order that the aerodynamic drag of the turrets and adjacent portions is not unduly increased.

The present invention provides a satisfactory solution to these problems and discloses a construction for fairing the re-entrant areas adjacent a movable gun turret. This invention has been shown as applied to the nose turret of a large flying boat and is arranged such that as the turret is traversed laterally in either direction a movable fairing is automatically rotated there'- with to prevent obstruction of the vision and fir- 1 ing field of the gunner. These side fairings or shields are also arranged such that they automatically follow the return movement of the turret as it is moved towards its normal or central position.

It is accordingly a major object of the present vinvention to provide means for maintaining the ment of the gun turret and which is also auto- ;matically returned to its fully extended position upon movement of the turret to its normal or central position. v v A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of streamlined fairing elements w hich are automatically retractable and extensible and do not require the attention of the gunner for their operation. A further object resides in the provision of retractable turret fairings of a unique shape and construction and of a novel mounting arrangement which permits their readily being moved in either direction and which does not interfere with the mounting or move ments of the gun turret.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following specifica tion and the attached drawings forming a part hereof, in which;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a gun turret mounted in the nose of an aircraft and to which the fairings of the present invention have been applied;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same in which the turret has been traversed toward the readerand the turret fairing is shown in a retracted position;

Fig. 3 is a detailed side elevational view of the turret fairing shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed elevational view of the same fairin as viewed looking forward;

Fig. 5 is a detailed plan view of the same fair- Fig, 6 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the lower portion of the fairing as taken along the lines 66 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the track and the rollers carried upon the lower portion of the fairing, the view being taken along the lines 1-4 of Fig. 6.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, l0 designates the body or hull portion of an aircraft to which the present invention has been applied. It will be understood that this invention is equally applicable to gun turrets on other vehicles, such as armored cars, tanks and boats, and the nose turret of an aircraft has been selected only by Wayof showing a preferred embodiment. The numeral H indicates the bow structure of the flying boat in the upper or nose portion of which there is provided an opening for a spherical type gun turret IS.

The gun turret I3 is preferably constructed of a spherical framework I32 within which is supported transparent part-spherical panels I33 within which is provided an apertured ring l3l to accommodate a machine gun M, or other ordnance .or camera gun which it may be desired to operate from the turret. The nose turret i3 is preferably of true spherical shape of suflicient diameter to be occupied by a gunner and contains a suflicient quantity of ammunition and other equipment and instruments normally required by the gunners or photographers operations. The turret is preferably mounted for horizontal or lateral traverse about the vertical axis BB, as well as vertical rotation for gun elevation about the transverse axis passing through the point at the intersection of the vertical axis B'B with the horizontal longitudinal axis A-A. The point 6 accordingly forms the geometrical center of the substantially spherical outer surface of the turret I3. I

Inasmuch as the mounting and operating details of the gun I4 and turret I3 form no part of the present invention they have not been shown in detail in the drawings. It will be deemed suflicient, however, to state that the bow gun I4 is mounted in a hydraulic power-driven turret which is composed of two major units; the enclosure and the gimbal. The gimbal, which is not shown, permits horizontal rotation, and trunnions permit movement in azimuth; 'the gimbal is power operated and is set on rollers in a track which is rigidly attached to the airplane structure. The enclosure or turret I3,which is pivoted directly to the gimbal through the side supports I5, rotates vertically to permit changes of gun elevation, and is .power actuated. The gunners seat and gun mount are an integral part .of the enclosure frame, in'order that any vertical movement of the enclosure also elevates the gun and the gunner. Horizontal movement of the gimbal rotates the entire turret assembly. An entrance door inside the hull provides access to the enclosure. The gun' I4 is suitably .fastened to the gun mount and the opening I'3l in one of the transparent enclosure panels I33 allows space for the gun muzzle to be inserted- The bow or nose of the flying boat In converges in a continuous streamlined surface'towardthe nose opening in whichthe turret is. disposed. Inthe region of the forward transverse bulkhead (not; shown) there is preferably provided a pair of side'windows I0 I aswellas a roof width, with the upper portion followingan elliptical or well-rounded form and the sides approach- .ing parallelism. -Extending forward from the first transverse bulkhead there is disposed a fixed fairing portion I2, the surfaces of which carry forward a continuation of the streamlinedshape of the after portion of theflying-boatbodyj II]. This fixed fairing portion l'2 has its leading edge .cut back in a lateral and downward sense to transverse direction the movable fairings I6 provide a continuation of the rounded upper' deck portion and the less sharply curved sideportions typical ofthe larger cross sectional shapes taken through. more rearward sections. of the hull Ill. The rear edge of the'fairing I6 isfpreferably formed to be.substantiallyparallel to the forward edge of the fixed fairingfl2. The forward edge of the movable fairing i6.is, however,. forwardly curved .both at its upper and. lower portions to fair itself closely toward the spherical outer surfaces of the turret I3 and the lateral turret supports I6, between which the fairing I5 is adapted to nest or telescope with minimum clearances.

The retractable turret falrings I6 are, preferably mounted to be rotated about separate laterally spaced vertical pivot axes CC which are rearwardly spaced from the vertical. axis BB of the gun turret and spaced a lesser distance at either side of" the longitudinal center line of the body II], as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. The upper portion of each fairing I6 is provided with an apertured lug I66 each of which is provided with an'opening to accommodate a vertically disposed bearing pin I8. The pins I 8 are also mounted, and retained within the forward central portion of the fixed fairing I2 by means of aligned lugs I2 I, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower or base portion of each movable fairing I6 is provided with suitable rollers I66 and I61 for guided movement within the arcuate track I1, which is V The fairings l6 are also intermediately provided with stiffeners or formers IBM and window opene ings which are suitably provided with transparent panels IBI. The inner wall I6a of the fairing is provided with an opening opposite the panel I61. 1

' The'lower portion of the movable fairing I6 is provided with a segmental shaped channel portion I64 suitably fastened to the: inner and outer surfaces of the fairing and having fastened thereto downwardly extending angl brackets I65 from which are pivotally supported the vertical and horizontal rollers I66 and I6'I.. outer sheet of the fairing I6 is preferably continued around the leading edge I62. and'suitably fastened to the inner sheet I6a. A channel shaped plate I64a is "disposed between the rearward edges of the inner and outer sheets forming a trailingedge at I63 and is provided at its lower extremity with a clip I16. The triangular box type construction of the fairing lfiser'ves to give .it rigidity to pivot and roll freely while maintaining the required clearances between the turret and the fixed body to merge thejoint. therebetween. I

- V The track I1 is rigidly supported upon the aircraft structure and is formed of a curved angle section I1I to which is. fastened an outwardly extending angle I12 of deeper section and an outwardly and upwardly facing channel section I13 as shown in detail in Fig. '1. The outstanding leg of the angle I12 and the web of the channel II 3 are spaced to closely accommodate the honzontal pivoted roller I61 and the flanges of the channel are disposed such that they similarly acward portion .over an idler sheave I15 which is' pivotally mounted upon the aircraft structure. in the region of thefixed track .I1. The rearward terminal of the: bungee .cord is attached to .an apertured'fitting' I11 supported upon the aircraft structure and the forwardtermin'atafter running over and returning a short distance ..rearwardly from the'sheave I15 is anchored to an aperture in the clip' I16 carried by theffairing I6. 'Each side support I5 of the turretisprovided with a laterally extendinglug or detent l5l which is adapted to engage the reinforced leading edge portion I62 of the respective fairings I6 upon lateral and rearward traverse of the turret beyond a predetermined amount and the bungee cords serve to au- The front or V tomatically return the fairing to its forwardly extended position.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the turret I3 is substantially in its central or normal position and can be laterally traversed toward the reader through a limited are before the lug I5! comes in contact with the leading edge H52, Beyond this point it is considered that the fairing l6 interferes with the vision and firing capabilities of the gunner. Accordingly, as the turret is continued in its lateral rotation the lug 15! making contact with the fairing [6 at its leading edge I62 causes the fairing to be rotated rearwardly about the vertical axis C--C passing through its upper pivotal connection 18 and with its lower portion moving arcuately rearwardly and V inwardly along thetrack J1. As thefairing I6 is automatically retracted rearwardly the bungee cord I14, which is initially tensioned in its normal position, has its tension increased such that as the turret is returned to its central position the bungee cord urges the fairing forward in continual contact with the lug [5| until the fair ng reaches its forward position as determined by the stop I18 at the forward end of the track upon its being contacted by the adjacent roller I61. The hydraulic turret control imparts sufficient motive force to the turret that the considerably lighter action of the bungee cord. exerted through the side fairings is readily overcome both through movement and in the locked positions of the turret. In the return movement of the turret the lug l5! first serves as a detent in limiting the following movement of the fairing I6 to contact with the turret side l5, and as the movement continues the stop I18 at the end of the track serves as a secondary detent to limit the fairing to its extreme forward position.

Other advantages of the present invention both with respect to its general arrangement and details which may become obvious to those skilled in the art after a reading of the present description are intended to come within the scope of the present invention as more particularly defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

In turret construction, a vehicle body, a turret movably carried within an opening in said body, a fairing element movably carried upon said body disposed between the same and said turret, and detent means associated with said turret and fairing for imparting to said fairing movements of said turret beyond a predetermined extent.

2. In aircraft, a bod having an opening therein, a turret rotatably mounted upon said body within said opening, a movable fairing carried upon said body adapted to merge the joint between said turret and said body, detent means carried by said turret constructed and arranged to carry said fairing with said turret during predetermined excess movements of said turret, and means to urge said fairing into its initial position upon return of said turret to its normal position. A

3. In aircraft, a body having an opening therereturn movement of said fairing prior to the return of said turret to its normal position.

i. In aircraft, in combination, an aircraft body having an opening therein, a gun turret rotatable within said opening about a vertical axis carried .upon said a rcraft. a'fairing movably carried upon said body disposed between the said turret and the adjacent edges of said opening, said turret being movable about said axis both with and with respect to said fairing, and detent means associated with said turret and said fairing for imparting said concurrent movements to said fairing upon movement of said turret beyond a predetermined extent.

5. In aircraft, a body having an opening in the nose portion thereof, a turret rotatably mounted upon said body on a vertical axis for rotation within said opening, a fairing movably supported upon said body for concurrent rotation with said turret and within said openin and de tent means associated with said turret and said fairing for imparting to said fairing movements of said turret beyond a predetermined extent whereby said fairing fairs the joint between said turret and the edges of said body opening in a plurality of positions into which said turret is movable.

6. In aircraft, in combination, a body having a nose portion with an opening in an exterior surface thereof, a turret pivotally mounted within said opening such that a gap is created between the surface of said turret and the edge of said body opening, a fairing element movably supported upon said body normally serving to provide a streamlined continuation of the exterior surfaces of said turret and said body across said gap and stop means associated with said turret and said fairing for imparting to said fairing movements of said turret beyond a predetermined extent.

7. In aircraft turret construction, an aircraft body having an opening therein, a turret movably carried by said body within said opening. arcuate guide means carried .by said aircraft body ad- .iacent a lateral side of said turret, pivotal means carried b said aircraft body substantially above said turret, a fairing element movably supported by said aircraft body upon said guide and pivotal means, and detent means associated with said turret and said fairing for imparting to said fairing movements of said turret beyond a predeter mined extent.

HARRY A. SUTTON. 

